Giant 7 unveiled to mark countdown to start of JP Morgan 7s Series

With the Rio Olympics now in view 7s has never been bigger - and that is certainly the case for the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series with this year's edition kicking off in seven days on August 1st at Premiership Rugby club Gloucester's home ground Kingsholm.

And to mark this occasion a giant orange seven measuring a staggering 23 metres in width by 49 metres in length was unveiled at the club's ground today to signal the count down to the start of the tournament.

With all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs split across three regional rounds, the opening group of the tournament sees Gloucester Rugby, Bath Rugby, Exeter Chiefs and Worcester Warriors battling it out for a place in the Series Final at the Rec on Friday August 9.

The series then moves to Northampton's Franklin's Gardens on the evening of Friday 2nd August for group B which is made up of Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers, Newcastle Falcons and Sale Sharks.

Completing the group stages on Saturday 3rd August at Saracens' Allianz Park; Harlequins, holders London Irish and London Wasps will take on the hosts for a place in the Final.

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio and new rugby expert for BT Sport who will be showing the series live, knows a thing or two about how important 7s is having won the inaugural Rugby World Cup 7s in 1993 and he admits he can't wait for this year's competition to get underway.

"The J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s is really the start of the season and it covers the opening few weekends and starts the coverage of BT Sport," he said.

"7s is becoming such a massive sport. We have just had the Rugby 7s World Cup and we have 7s coming into the Olympic Games in 2016 and it has really been growing.

"The only thing that is the same in the game of 7s since I played in the 1993 Rugby World Cup 7s is that there are seven players on the pitch. It is a much more dynamic and explosive game and one you are far better off watching than playing.

"I have always been a fan of 7s, particularly in the early stages of your career as it is a real development game and it is really growing across the world."

The home fans packing out Kingsholm a week today will be hoping to see their Cherry & Whites victorious after losing last year's final 31-28 to London Irish.

Jonny May sat out that thrilling defeat through injury but is chomping at the bit to make amends 12 months on.

"Those that didn't play felt they missed out, and I was gutted to miss out in the final at The Rec with a dead leg.

"But it was a perfect night in the group stages at Kingsholm, we won three from three and a bit of revenge would be nice this time around if we get to another final."

The J.P. Morgan Premiership Rugby 7s starts on August 1st at Gloucester with rounds at Franklin's Gardens, Allianz Park with the final at The Rec, Bath.

Argentine international Mariano Galarza made his Gloucester Rugby debut on Sunday afternoon, and despite a disappointing reverse to Sale Sharks, the giant Puma was just glad to be making his long-awaited bow in Cherry and White.

Having skippered Scotland to a hard fought 25-13 defeat against England at Twickenham on Saturday, Greig Laidlaw spoke of the frustrations of his side doing so many good things and making real progress as a team but still finishing on the wrong end of the scoreline.

GRTV caught up with Neil McCarthy as he was unveiled as the new Head of Academy. The ex-Gloucester front rower is looking forward to getting to work with the vast arrays of talent in the Academy and across Gloucestershire.

Although understandably disappointed to see Northampton snatch a 33-33 draw with a last gasp try on Saturday, Gareth Evans told GRTV after the game that the result shows how far Gloucester have come as a team this season.

Gloucester scrum half Greig Laidlaw spoke to GRTV after the 33-33 draw with Northampton Saints on Saturday, and the Scotsman described how the hosts played some great rugby, but will rue not holding the lead which keeps them in touch with the top seven.

Although Gloucester could take many positives from the 33-33 draw with Northampton Saints on Saturday, centre Bill Meakes admitted it was a strange feeling at the final whistle with Gloucester having probably done enough to win the game.

Speaking after the 33-33 draw with Northampton Saints on Saturday, David Humphreys admitted that he was happy with many aspects of the team's performance but regretted a missed opportunity to defeat the Premiership champions.

Hartpury U18s won the AASE league for the sixth year in a row last week beating Filton College in the Final at Allianz Park by 50 points to nil, while Bromsgrove School won their first NatWest U18 Schools Cup.

Gloucester Rugby would like to inform supporters about an exciting opportunity for you to raise money for your chosen charity or chosen cause. 2015 is an exciting year for Gloucester, with Kingsholm Stadium hosting four fixtures for Rugby World Cup 2015.